The minds of the Irish people have become inflamed by fiery debate on the issue of Marriage Equality. In two weeks, our country takes to the polls to vote on Marriage Equality, and should it pass, could make not only Irish history, but world history, by being the first country to legally enact it by popular vote.

Jonathan Currie died on the streets, less than fifty feet away from Leinster House, the seat of Irish government. Whether or not he has become the catalyst so desperately needed in Ireland to tackle the taboo-like topic of homelessness in Ireland remains to be seen.

This is a divided, vivisected Northern Ireland. This is the inheritance of Paisleyism, a noxious, nefarous ideology that broke and bankrupted Northern Ireland for decades and which now stands firm against reconciliation and a plurality of views.

Perhaps LAD can replace the 'Loyalists Against' with 'Laughing At' and make all those who make our society unbearable the subject of derision. They have certainly made us chuckle for the past thirteen months and there's no reason to think that all-inclusive mockery would be any less amusing.

This is Ireland. This is our situation. The Irish citizen is faced with a blizzard of potential injustices and problems if they live in our country. People need to organise themselves and take account. It is time for people to say enough...

It is time opponents of abortion realise that the debate surrounding the legalisation of abortion is not simply a question about the biological health of the mother, or the imagined potential of the foetus. It is about the complexities of a human life, and respecting a woman's intelligence, autonomy and desire for fulfilment as having equal status and complexity as any man's.

This week, the Irish parliament is debating new abortion legislation, to be enacted before the parliamentary summer break. For anybody familiar with the now infamous Savita Halappanavar case, this should instinctively come as welcome news. Yet, almost eight months later, the Irish government is proposing a law that does nothing to prevent another scenario like the fateful one endured by Ms. Halappanavar.

Last weekend, Ireland was consumed by something terrible, something dark, something that could tear the fabric of Irish society apart as we know it. Yes, Ireland has been struck dumb by the menace of threesomes.

The outpouring of tears and justice for the victims in the south is bitter-sweet for Northern Ireland victims. They are joyful at justice for their sisters in the south, but for themselves, they fear being ignored - again. For them, there is no inquiry. No apology. No compensation scheme.

Politics in Northern Ireland needs to address the real issues. We've practiced and mastered whataboutery for too long. The result is a flailing economy, unaided by friendly fire from within and a divided political shambles, completely devoid of consensus.

Sinn Fein now want a border poll. Instead of focusing on growing the economy, creating jobs, establishing economic stability and rebuilding Ireland's credibility abroad - which everyone wants - they're now focusing on re-opening the old debate and picking an old wound - which very few want.

I write as one of the offshore Irish, who spoke outside the Irish embassy in London last week to honour the memory of Savita Halappanavar and urge your government to respond appropriately to her death.

Using the tagline 'Take Charge of Change,' Being Young and Irish is a series of seminars organised by President Higgins whereby people aged between 17 and 26 can have their say on where Ireland is going.

Last week, Andy Burnham, Labour's shadow Health Secretary, threw his weight behind the campaign for the Labour Party to fight elections in Northern Ireland for the first time. For the long-suffering Labour Party members in Northern Ireland - allowed to join the party but not fight elections - this is the latest welcome development on a long, long road.

It's intimidating stepping behind the scenes to shadow Ireland's president. It's quite obvious to everyone that I'm a bit nervous taking the task on. Have you ever read George Orwell's essay on how to make the perfect cup of tea? I blurt these words out at the beginning as an ice-breaker. He smiles. Little did he know...I have my own Michael D Higgins story yet to tell.

Perhaps it's a dated debate, but the recent election and referenda here in Ireland have invoked a sense of dismay and embarrassment in me on why Irish people are not voting. An appalling turnout of voters has been recorded, in the region of 50%.